‘How Does Sex Education Need to Modernise to Improve The Physical and Mental Well-being of Today’s Youth?’

Molly East explores the importance and vital need of a modernised sex education curriculum in schools, both in the UK and internationally. Women’s health in particular is repeatedly excluded, resulting in many growing up with a lack of knowledge surrounding their own bodies, leading to poor physical and mental well-being. It is also necessary that boys and men learn about women’s health so it is less likely to be overlooked so prominently in the future.  
 
For the outcome, Molly has produced a zine called Get To Know, aimed at 11-16 year-olds currently undertaking sex education and experiencing signs of puberty. Acting as the first issue, this zine covers the bare minimum of what this age group should understand about their bodies, albeit many schools and curriculums fail to cover it.  
 
Its unapologetic design aims to engage young audiences and empower them to learn about their bodies. The zine is illustrated honestly and inclusively, with one of the main takeaways being that there is no “normal” and that our bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and to not believe anyone, especially the media, who says otherwise.  
 
The zine is risograph-printed for easy production and distribution while maintaining an authentic hand-made feel. Its hand-held size and sketchbook aesthetic aims to tailor towards the young audience and its vibrant and doodle-like quality defies the corporate brochures and scientific diagrams, which lack humanity, that school kids are so often presented with. This refreshing take on sex education aims to engage and encourage young people to not only just read the zine, but want to hold on to it as well.